The Goddess – Divine Femininity
Over the years a recurring theme in my work has been the Goddess. The divine feminine. It seems to be something that is making a comeback. Many years ago it was popular amongst our ancestors who worshiped the great Mother as their pre-eminent deity. Today many people seem to be returning to this aspect of the sacred, although I swear this has nothing to do with my experience.
It began for me with a dream. One of those big ones. I won’t go into the tedious details but the message was clear. A powerful force was awakening from a long slumber. This force was the goddess. Since this dream I have seen the world in a different way and the divine feminine has grown in meaning for me. As a man I have come to adore the sexual aspects of femininity, as a child I learned what the power of a mother is. And as an artist I kneel at the altar of her wisdom. Like art, much of this inner experience is beyond words, which only seem to cheapen the feelings they are supposed to represent. This is why most people do not speak of it, and those who do, do so at their peril.
When femininity is elevated to the level of the sacred we can speak of an archetype, a powerful image that resides in the psyche. Everything is enhanced. The dark negative aspects of woman become an all destroying monster, the dark goddess, and the positive aspects become the embodiment of the divine. Both aspects can be recognized in the myths of the world. This is magical thinking. It goes against the rationalism of our times, and therein lies its value. It is a madness, not a malady, and a cure for too much sense. How then can I speak of it. I cannot.
Jake Baddeley
P.S. By clicking on the image you will go to the special portfolio page with all the paintings in this theme
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Every word of yours could be written by me ! Like all your work – love your ‘Goddess work’. Continued blessings with it. My quest started in earnest in the early eighties – like you, mega dreams … and visions. My ‘art’ ended up a screenplay (my first) – what would your version of Munch’s ‘Madonna’ look like? – it is one of the threads running through the tale. Looking now for a female director to consider working on my story … maybe we could even work on an iconic poster together!!
Dear Jake,
I absolutely love your work; the tarot is fascinating, especially your take on the Devil, the goddess images beautiful and the symbolic paintings just wonderful. I lecture on Tarot and the Goddess as well as philosophical themes and esoteric lectures of interest. I am always looking for inspiring images to accompany my lectures on powerpoint or posts on facebook and am mindful of the need to give writing to see if you grant permission for their use, with full credit?
With kind wishes
Suzanne Corbie
ps my website is new, the old one got hacked and is not yet fully populated
Many thanks, You are free to use my work for these uses, credits appreciated.
Regards
Jake Baddeley